Ask Marilyn | Parade.com

Getting Puzzled Twice

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Misty Covington of Sparks, Maryland, writes: Marilyn: I did a double-take when I read a word puzzle from another reader in your column. (October 25, 2009) I wrote that puzzle--which you published in...

Science as a Career

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Feng Liu of Beijing, China, writes: Marilyn: As you've known you were smart since you were very young, why didn't you choose a career in scientific research? Marilyn responds: I had no interest...

Questioning Your Memories

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Kyle McDonald of Caseyville, Illinois, writes: Marilyn: While reminiscing privately a few years ago, I noticed something contradictory in many of my memories: They weren't in my perspective. They...

A Funny Sleep Aid

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Dave Donahue of Stilwell, Kansas, writes: Marilyn: For several years, I was a night owl and a dedicated fan of Jay Leno. After the show, I would go to bed and sleep soundly. Now the show is much...

Paging Mr. Bernoulli

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Grover Ericksen of Hendersonville, North Carolina, writes: Marilyn: Your answer to the question about flight (October 18, 2009) should have mentioned that the wings need to have an airfoil shape,...

Using a Crutch or Cane

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Pete Davis of Evans, Georgia, writes: Marilyn: When using one crutch or a cane, should the support be on the same side as the bad foot (or leg)? Or should the device be held on the opposite side?...

Sunday's Column - November 8, 2009

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Feeding most wild animals is discouraged because the practice makes them dependent on humans. Yet feeding birds is accepted. Why the difference? —B. Chafin, Decatur, Ga. The sheer volume of food is...

Let Them Drink Soda

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

James Santiago of Albuquerque, New Mexico, writes: Marilyn: I disagree with your reply about wasting water. (September 20, 2009) Retaining water in the man-made distribution system leaves less...

Houses With Electric Heat

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Jay Stevens of Angola, Indiana, writes: Marilyn: In your comments about running ceiling fans in heating season, you noted that the writer should compare the expense of operating the fan to the...

A Fishing Lures Puzzle

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

To William B. of Hudson, Wisconsin, Dan H. of Springfield, Massachusetts, Rick H. of Hagerstown, Maryland, Dan L. of Chesterfield, Virginia, Jim L. of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Chuck M. of Wichita,...

Why That SUV, Jack?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Barbara Birkholz of Fennville, Michigan, writes: Marilyn: I'm writing about the Jack and Jill clunker puzzle. (September 20, 2009) Why doesn't Jack just trade his SUV for the hybrid? What do not I...

Planetary Speed Limit

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Tina Shaycort of Melissa, Texas, writes: Marilyn: When a person travels by car at, say, 50 mph, this speed is relative to the road. You stated that New York City spins at about 775 mph. (September...

Numbrix Design and Function

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Dolores Rich of Hunting Beach, California, writes: Marilyn: What type of ability does one use to solve Numbrix puzzles? Marilyn responds: Numbrix is designed to exercise one's fluid...

Sunday's Column - November 1, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Is it true that burning wood in a fireplace will make your home-heating energy costs go up instead of down? (Don’t include the cost of the wood.) —John Clapsaddle, Ellicott City, Md. Yes. A fire...

Alphabet Stumbler

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Alan Moger of Waterford, Connecticut, writes: Marilyn: In the question about the number of people with surnames in the first half of the alphabet versus the second half, the letters specified were...

To Diet or Not?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Jane Tierney of Kansas City, Missouri, writes: Marilyn: I recently found your daily diet at your Web site. Do you still follow it? If so, did you get used to the smaller breakfast and lunch easily?...

Automatic Dog Wash

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Matthew White of Portland, Oregon, writes: Marilyn: Here's an idea--Make a structure as a dog entrance to the house. As the dog trots through, his feet are washed and dried, and his coat is fluffed...

Astrology Is Not a Science

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Gus Nielson of Seattle, Washington, writes: Marilyn: I have some intelligent friends who are really into astrology. Not the newspaper horoscope kind, but the charts and data kind. They swear it's...

Sun Up, Temperature Down

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Allen Bunn of Blytheville, Arkansas writes: Marilyn: I am an early-to-bed and early-to-rise type. When I get up around 5 am, I look at the temperature. After dawn, I see that the temperature has...

An Appealing Girlfriend

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Greg Sanders of Evanston, Illinois, writes: Marilyn: I have a girlfriend who is extremely intelligent.  Her personality is amazing. She is somewhat homely but attractive in a unique way. She...

Sunday's Column - October 25, 2009

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

What do these words have in common: about, bring, carouse, drag, equality, fox, ground, hill, irate, jangle, know, late, mat, never, opinions, part, roar, strait, table, vindicate, washes, your,...

Ad for Hybrids?!

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

John Doe of Denver, Colorado, writes: Marilyn: I'm writing about Jack and his gas-guzzling SUV. (September 20, 2009) Great commercial for hybrid cars. So, Jack and Jill get rid of a car. I don't...

Hidden Meaning?!

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Bill Brunone of Marietta, Georgia, writes: Marilyn: It was easy to walk away from the question about the SUV and the economy car without understanding your meaning. (September 20, 2009) The question...

Finite Supply of Water

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Lee Scheffler of West Newton, Massachusetts, writes: Marilyn: Your comments about wasting water didn't include an important point. (September 20, 2009) Any water system has both a finite supply and...

Driving a Hybrid

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Fred Slate of Glendale Heights, Illinois, writes: Marilyn: I'm writing about the gas-guzzler-versus-a-hybrid question. (September 20, 2009) The problem is that in order to make the extra expense of...

Making Round Hinges

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Steve Holmes of Deerfield, Wisconsin, writes: Marilyn: Your shapely answer about round pizzas in square boxes didn't mention the importance of function over style. (September 20, 2009) It is almost...

Those Annoying Crawlers

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Joshua Warnecke of Portland, Oregon, writes: Marilyn: Among my extended family members, I've noticed that people over 40 or 50 years old dislike the crawlers that scroll across the bottom of the...

Sunday's Column - October 18, 2009

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

How can an object as heavy as an airplane fly? Please explain the basic principles. —Shanna Blessed, Brooklyn, N.Y. Say a plane is flying on a straight, level course and not accelerating. Four...

Look 'Em in the Mouth

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

J.K. of Baltimore, Maryland, writes: Marilyn: People usually look at each other's eyes when they talk. I've always looked at their mouths. I don't know why I do this. I don't avoid their eyes at...

Greening Your Lawn

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

John Edward Mahalo D'Aura of Las Vegas, Nevada, writes: Marilyn: Your reply to the question about wasting water was somewhat misleading. (September 20, 2009) Watering the lawn is useful. Lawns use...